Nigeria's 12 Tucano jets to fight Boko Haram won't be ready until 2024

2020 had been set as the initial delivery date of the jets but that has now been extended by four years.

The Nigerian government won't receive the 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets it paid the United States government the sum of $469.4 million for until 2024.

President Muhammadu Buhari had controversially withdrawn the sum in question from the excess crude account, without the initial approval of the National Assembly, for the procurement of the jets which the government hopes will improve national security and help in its fight against terrorist group, Boko Haram.

Even though the delivery date was reported to be set for 2020, the United States Department of Defence has revealed that the fighter jets won't be ready for delivery till 2024.

The Defence Department announced on Wednessday, November 28 that the contract for the jets has been awarded to Sierra Nevada Corporation. The contract, worth $329 million, includes Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) systems installed in six of the aircrafts.

The contract also provides for ground training equipment, mission planning systems, mission debrief systems, spares, ground support equipment and support services for personnel of the Nigeria Air Force.

The manufacturing of the fighter jets will take place in Jacksonville, Florida, according to the Department of Defence.

The late delivery date of the jets had previously nearly stalled the deal and the new date is expected to create further friction, especially with a resurgence in Boko Haram's activities in the northeast region.

Boko Haram's troubling resurgence

12 days ago, terrorists belonging to Boko Haram faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), overran the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele village in Guzamala local government area of Borno during an attack on November 18.

Even though many reports indicated that over 100 soldiers were killed in the attack with many others missing, the Army disclosed in a statement on Wednesday, November 28, that 23 soldiers were killed with 31 others injured.

The statement also revealed that terrorists staged a series of attacks on Nigerian troops between November 2 and November 17. The attacks took place in Kukawa, Ngoshe, Kareto and Gajiram, all in Borno, but were 'successfully repelled' by troops who killed 'several members' of the terrorist group. However, 16 soldiers were killed in the attacks while 12 were injured.

The Army also noted that despite systematically degrading Boko Haram in the past three years, the terrorists are staging a resurgence with daring moves that include the increased use of drones against troops' defensive positions and infusion of foreign fighters in their ranks.

Eliminate Boko Haram 'from face of the earth'

President Buhari was in Maiduguri, Borno State on Wednesday to declare open the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference as the guest of honour.

While delivering his speech, the president charged the military's leadership to ensure that their plans and programmes meet the nation's security challenges. He also urged the Army to remain committed to defeating Boko Haram.

"I want to encourage our troops not to be distracted by whatever speculations but remain focused and committed to the task of eliminating Boko Haram from the face of the earth," he said.

He said security remains one of the cardinal objectives of his administration and promised that no effort will be spared to support troops, including reviewing their welfare package.

"I want to assure you that, as your commander in chief, I will do everything within my powers to continue empowering you by providing all the necessary equipment for you to prevail on the field.

"I also want you to be aware that I'm currently looking into measures to improve your entitlements and welfare generally," he said.

Fashola explains why it took President Buhari six months to form his cabinet

Fashola says those who criticize Buhari for taking six months to put his cabinet together, don't know what they are talking about.

Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has responded to everyone who still criticizes President Muhammadu Buhari for taking forever to name his cabinet.

Inaugurated president in May of 2015, Buhari only revealed his ministers and their portfolios in November, as Nigerians railed and wailed against the delay.

Economic pundits partly blame the delay for why Nigeria headed into a recession as soon as Buhari assumed the reins, with investors waiting for policy direction from the new president before deciding whether to hedge their bets on Nigeria or not.

Speaking on Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsuji's TheSheetTV, Fashola said forming a cabinet is hard work as he found out at as Lagos Governor from 2007 to 2015.

"I think I must have taken about three months before I constituted my team. And it is a very painstaking process, first because of our constitution", Fashola said.

"And even by the time we constituted the team here (in Lagos), one local government came out and said, you didn't pick us and I said, Ok, I’m the Commissioner from your local government, don’t worry. Because the cabinet was full and I said there is no more chair!

"And they would now tell you, o, you didn’t pick from this place, you didn’t pick woman, you didn’t pick youth…there are too many politicians…too many technocrats. Those are all the interests. After they finish that, they will say the Muslims are more than the Christians, the Christians are more than the Muslims. After that, they will say the Pentecostals are more than the Orthodox.

"One day, I got so exasperated that I called my team and said just check for me. They say they are more Muslims in the cabinet. I didn’t set it out that way. But I just looked for good people. When they printed the list for me and I looked, it was a dead heat, divided in the middle. 50:50 Christians and Muslims. In that cabinet. Those are all the interests you have to deal with".

Buhari cut cost of governance, Fashola says

Fashola added that Buhari should rather be praised for cutting the cost of governance when he took over from Goodluck Jonathan .

"Now the president that they are talking about, he made it clear that he would listen to them on the issue of reducing the cost of running government. He collapsed 42 ministries to 24. You don’t do that just by waving a wand!

"You need to know what they are doing, which one you can merge with what and then he ended up with 24. That’s why my own ministry became three with a reduction in number of ministers. There should have been six. Minister of State and substantive Minister. That’s a cost reduction. And you are blaming him for that?!", the minister said.

No need to shuffle a working cabinet

Fashola insisted that those who are criticizing Buhari for not shuffling his cabinet in three years, have no idea what they are talking about.

"Now, let’s do the math. 42 days and each day, the president was taking one ministry to brief him. 42 days is one month and almost half a month. During that period, he travelled. He was doing Boko Haram, doing this, doing that, breaking down the ministries. Do you think you just get there and mix it up?

"Then you are talking about longevity of ministers and commissioners. One of the reasons why I think we sit here today is longevity. The rules in government are different from your everyday rules. You first have to learn.

"If they (the ministers) haven’t been changed, the person who appointed them is satisfied with the work they are doing for him.

"I want young people who watch sports, especially those who watch football, to see government teams the way they see football teams. You spend all your money to buy the best players in the world and in the first or second season, they don’t win the league, because they haven’t acclimatized, they have left their countries, they have to eat a different food, they have to play at a different speed.

"Ministers are no different. Many of them are just getting to Abuja for the first time. They don’t have homes, they need to settle. Some of them have never worked in government. They are human beings just like sportsmen!! Which entertainer gets on the stage and that night, he makes the platinum sale. In one night?

"The reason why some of us were able to settle down quicker was because we’ve been in government. It’s not the same structure. It looks the same—state and federal—but some things are different.

"This rush to change and change, go and survey all the states that changed, what did they deliver?", he said.

Some ministers in Buhari's team have been criticized for not pulling their weights and not knowing what their job descriptions essentially entail.

President Buhari is seeking a second term in office in 2019. Fashola has been campaigning for the president's re-election on his media stops, especially in his Southwest base.

Buratai says no Army can ever have enough equipment

He has charged Army leaders to be dynamic in the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram while also minimising casualties of troops

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, has told commanders and senior leaders of the Nigerian Army to adapt with changing situations in the Army's operations against terrorist group, Boko Haram, in the northeast region.

While speaking at the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference in Maiduguri, Borno State on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, the Army chief said no Army in the world can possibly have enough equipment to conduct its operations.

Therefore, he said the military leaders must be dynamic in the prosecution of the war against terrorists and minimise casualties of troops.

He said, "I must also add that no Army can ever have enough equipment to conduct its operations; hence, it is incumbent on all commanders and senior leaders of the Nigerian Army to recognise that we're involved in asymmetry warfare which calls for dynamism and flexibility if we're to succeed with minimal casualties.

"Therefore, commanders are to ensure that they show leadership at all times and continuously adapt with changing situations in order to surmount adversity in the conduct of operations."

Buratai's comment comes on the heel of the recent killing of over 100 soldiers which occured when terrorists overran the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele village in Guzamala local government area of Borno during an attack on November 18.

In the wake of the attack, several soldiers have complained about the lack of proper equipment to fight the terrorists who have made several attempts to overrun army bases.

A soldier told Premium Times, "We are being killed on daily basis as if our lives don't matter. Of course as soldiers we signed to lay down our lives in defence of this country, but certainly not in the manner we are being presented for slaughter without dignity. A soldier should die fitting and not being chased or overpowered.

"Our morale has been dampened so badly - not only because we are not given our due allowances; but for the fact that we have been outgunned by the Boko Haram.

"The situation has gone so bad that it has gotten to a stage that soldiers would be rushing to pack up their camps and flee upon hearing the news that Boko Haram fighters are advancing.

"We have suddenly lost our spirit of launching attacks because of lack of resources to prosecute the battle. Many of us are ready to do our best, but there has been no requisite support from those sending us out there."

The attack has fueled speculations about the nation's defence spending as the opposition has accused the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, of diverting the funds meant to arm the military to President Muhammadu Buhari's re-election campaign.

Army changing strategies against Boko Haram

During his address on Wednesday, Buratai also revealed that the Army is reorganising to align with some current realities in the war against the terrorist group.

"It is my belief that the Nigerian Army must start to plan and strategise on how to end the operations in the northeast.

"To this end, I have directed for a change from a holy defensive posture to one where we defend in numbers and conduct offensive operations in smaller packets to simultaneously in different fronts," he said.

He also revealed that in-theater training for troops in the frontlines has been expanded to help troops operate and conduct effective operations.

He said the Army's leadership has opened the doors to provide local and foreign training opportuinities for all cadre of officers and soldiers. He revealed that 156 members of the Army have attended foreign courses in 2018, with 2,390 also attending local courses and training programmes including Masters degree programs, workshops and conferences.

Buhari lands in Maiduguri to boost troops morale against Boko Haram

The president will meet troops to restore confidence in the fight against terrorism.

President Muhammadu Buhari has landed in Borno State capital, Maiduguri, to declare open the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Annual Conference on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.

The conference was initially scheduled to take place in Edo State on Monday, November 26, but was moved to Maiduguri.

The move is believed to have been in reaction to the recent killing of over 100 soldiers when terrorists overran the 157 Task Force Battalion in Metele village in Guzamala local government area of Borno during an attack on November 18.

Moving the conference to Borno is expected to give the president the opportunity to visit troops who have been fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast region.

NAPTIP arrests Ochanya's aunt for knowlegde about teenager's repeated rape

She's suspected of having knowledge of the repeated rape of the teenager without reporting to the appropriate authorities.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested Felicia Ogbuja, the aunt of Elizabeth Ochanya, a teenage girl that recently died after years of sexual abuse.

Ochanya died on October 18, 2018 after years of sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by Felicia's husband, Andrew Ogbuja, and their son, Victor, a student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi. The 13-year-old died of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and other health complications at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

According to a statement by NAPTIP, Felicia was arrested on Friday, November 23, because she's suspected of having knowledge of the repeated rape of the late teenager without reporting to the appropriate authorities.

Felicia had been evading arrest for the past four weeks by escaping first to Lagos and then Abuja before returning to Makurdi where she was arrested.

NAPTIP's Director-General, Julie Okah-Donli, said Felicia will be investigated to ascertain her level of connivance before she's charged to court.

She said, "I am still pained by the tragic death of the late Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbaje and the only thing we can do to ensure that her groaning spirit rests in peace is to ensure that full dose of justice is served on all those that are directly or indirectly involved in the unwholesome act that led to her death.

"It is important to establish the status of people around the late girl who had knowledge of her ordeal and yet refused to report to the Law enforcement Agencies who would have rescued her.

"We cannot continue to fold our hands while our children are been sexually molested and assaulted by people that ought to have protected them. This case at hand will be a case that will be monitored and all those linked in one way or the other shall all be made to face the full weight of the law."

Ochanya had left her family to start living with the Ogbujas in Ugbokolo town in 2013 because there was no school in her village.

Before her death, Ochanya narrated how Victor first raped her when she was eight, a crime that was eventually brought to Andrew's attention who also started sexually abusing her afterwards. She was molested, defiled, drugged and abused for a period of five years.

Andrew has been remanded in custody till the charges brought against him are heard in court on November 29. Victor remains at large.

Kwara State Govt is wondering why it hasn't received its share of Paris Club refund

Kwara state is asking the federal government why it is yet to receive its share of the Paris Club refund.

The Kwara State Government is wondering why it has not received its share of the final tranche of Paris Club refunds from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Commissioner for Finance in Kwara, Alhaji Demola Banu told The Herald this week that the government has done all the necessary reconciliations that are required for the refund to be made.

Banu also disclosed that while the state government has already made a fresh presentation on the refunds to the new Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, it is yet to receive the expected funds from Abuja, the nation's seat of power.

According to the Commissioner, since States like Osun, Benue, Oyo, and Delta have received their final tranches of the refunds, Kwara should also be getting hers.

What Paris Club refund will mean for Kwara

The Kwara state government had promised that when received, the bulk of the funds will be deployed towards assisting local councils in the payment of salary and pension arrears, as well as SUBEB and other liabilities at the state level.

The Paris Club refunds are simply monies accrued from over-deductions from each state by the federal government before Nigeria’s exit from the London/Paris Club of creditors.

The funds became available when Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in 2005.

Nigeria runs a pseudo federalism where monies generated from taxes and crude oil sale is shared among the three tiers of government based on a pre-agreed percentage.

Man kills his wife, in-law during divorce proceedings .

A police officer killed two family members before attempting to kill himself during a divorce proceedings, today, at the Durban Magistrates Court in South Africa

The officer and his wife were in court to file for divorce, when he allegedly opened fire during the adjournment. The woman and her brother died instantly while the suspect is in a critical condition in hospital.

The suspect remains under police guard at a nearby hospital. He attempted suicide after fatally shooting his wife and brother-in-law in courtroom O on the eighth floor at the court..

KZN police spokesperson Thembeka Mbele says the motive is still being investigated. The suspect will be charged with two counts of murder.